Solutions that don’t break the bank, reinvent the wheel or marginalize our teachers are within our grasp. We could have rigorous classes, safe and disciplined schools and treat teachers like valued colleagues rather than easily replaceable cogs, and we could do so tomorrow if we wanted. Disclaimer, this is an opinion and commentary site and should not be confused as a news site. Also know that quite often people may disagree with the opinions posted.

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Friday, July 4, 2014

Florida's new test, same as the old test

By Greg SampsonGot this tidbit in my email:

The New Mexico State Procurement Office on Wednesday denied a
protest by the American Institutes for Research, which had delayed contract
work to develop the assessment for next year. The work can now proceed.

Mitchell Chester, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education for Massachusetts and Chair of the PARCC states Governing Board
issued the following statement:

"This is great news for New Mexico and all of the PARCC
states. We have been confident from the start that New Mexico conducted a fair
and open request-for-proposals process, and this decision confirms that. It
also allows us to get back to the work started by states and strengthened by
thousands of teachers: developing a new generation of high-quality assessments
designed to better measure whether students are on track for college and
careers. PARCC is not a product that states have chosen to buy; it's an
assessment system they have worked to build together. Our states and schools
are moving forward in their decision and implementation processes."

Hanna Skandera, New Mexico's Secretary of Education, issued the
following statement:

"We're grateful to see a resolution that prioritizes New
Mexico's students as well as those in other states. As we've said from the
start, this has been an open and fair process with the singular goal of
improving student achievement in New Mexico.

"The State Purchasing Agent saw this protest for exactly what
it is when he said: 'No vendor, including AIR, has any right to substitute
its own views and business policy decisions for any state agency.' "

Non-profit or for-profit, it’s all the same. Keep flying
those hurricane flags, Florida, as we enter into the FLAIR era (Florida American
Institutes of Research test.) BTW, did you know PARCC has hired Pearson for the
actual administration of their tests?